Kuching To Host Malaysia’s First CIFA Regional Symposium On Family & Mental Health
KUCHING: Malaysia has been selected to host the Consortium of Institutes on Family in the Asian Region (CIFA) Regional Symposium 2026, with Kuching making history as the first city in the country to host the prestigious event.
The symposium is jointly organised by the National Coalition for Mental Wellbeing (NCMW) Malaysia and CIFA Hong Kong, reflecting strengthened regional collaboration in addressing family and mental health challenges across Asia.
According to organisers, the selection of Kuching highlights Sarawak’s growing recognition as a legacy capital of business events in Malaysia and Borneo whereas events are designed to generate long term social impact beyond economic returns.
The three-day symposium will be held from 18 to 20 November 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, bringing together more than 500 delegates from across the Asia Pacific region.
Under the theme “Building Bridges: Mental Health and Resilience Across Generations in the AI Era,” the symposium will focus on strengthening resilience among children, teenagers and parents in response to rising mental health challenges in the digital age.
According to a statement, discussions will centre on developing accessible mental health support systems including affordable services, community-based care, financial assistance mechanisms, insurance coverage and workplace protections.
The statement added that the symposium will also examine how different generations experience mental health in the digital era including the influence of social media on emotional well being, self perception and intergenerational communication.
It further noted that speakers will highlight the importance of bridging generational gaps by understanding both the risks and opportunities presented by digital technology in shaping mental health outcomes.
Speaking at the soft launch, Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the city’s selection reflects its commitment to inclusive and people-centred development.
“For Sarawak to be selected as the host location for Malaysia’s first CIFA Regional Symposium reflects the growing recognition of Kuching as a city that values inclusive development, social well being and people-centred progress,” he said.
He added that mental health must be addressed collectively through education, open dialogue and stronger community responses to reduce stigma and support suicide prevention efforts.
Co-Chair of the CIFA Regional Symposium 2026 Siti Subaidah Mustaffa said all stakeholders must play an active role in strengthening mental health support systems.
“Policymakers, researchers, corporate partners and communities cannot remain playing role as observers but must come together as partners to shape policies, invest in mental health and create environments whereas families are supported to build resilience from the ground up,” she stated.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) Jason Tan Chin Foo, opined that the symposium reflects Sarawak’s role in translating dialogue into coordinated action.
“Bringing the CIFA Regional Symposium to Malaysia for the first time reflects the growing importance of regional collaboration in addressing family and mental health challenges,” he said, adding that the initiative aligns with the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
A soft launch session of the symposium provided an early preview of its programme, featuring expert sharing sessions which focusing on mental health resilience and generational dynamics in the digital era.
Among the sessions highlighted were discussions on how resilience is shaped through early childhood experiences and the role of caregivers in emotional development as well as perspectives on how digitalisation influences mental wellbeing, communication patterns and coping mechanisms across generations. -UKASnews
